In tactical shooters like Valorant, map knowledge and strategy is everything. To help you develop strategies, we’ve published a guide for each of the three Valorant maps. We’ll be using a lot of Callout terminology in the process, so watch out for the cheat images in the article. And get your reading glasses ready, it’s on to our last map: with Bind.

A general piece of advice that applies to all Valorant maps: communicating is important. This may be difficult when playing with strangers, but it really makes a big difference. A lack of communication and coordination can often make the difference between a fun round and a frustrating one.

Each map in Valorant has its own peculiarity and special feature. In Bind, this is clearly the teleporters: the map has two of them, opening up new gameplay possibilities.

Bind Map – B Site – Defenders Guide

Let’s go through the Bind map from left to right: B-Site has two access points for the attackers – via Hookah and B-Window, and B-Long and Garden. A good strategy for defense is to have someone on the left on B-Site at B-Cubby to target anyone coming through B-Long. You can also target Hookah from here, but be careful because you expose yourself to attackers at B-Long/Garden. It is therefore safer to have a defender behind the B-Site box: From here you can safely defend both Garden and Hookah.

It is not recommended to defend from far behind the opening at B-Hall, because from here you cannot see who is coming over B-Long and cannot prevent the attackers from placing the spike.

However, B-Elbow is a solid spot and from here you have the drop on anyone coming into the area via Garden. In addition, all peekers from B-Window are also immediately in the crosshairs. The downside to B-Elbow, however, is that you have no real cover.

A slightly more aggressive tactic is to set up a defender inside Hookah, since the attackers have to control many angles here, which the defender can use to his advantage. In Eco rounds, you can use a Shotgun in Hookah since everything is close together and you have the advantage that the attackers don’t know where you are.

The priority for defense is definitely B-Long, as this gives the attackers access to the teleporter at the B port, which allows a direct connection to the other side of the map.

Bind Map – B Site – Attackers Guide

B-Long is very important and should be conquered. Controlling B-Long gives access to the teleporter, which really opens up the map: If you get stuck on B, you can immediately rotate to A through the teleporter.

If you advance from B-Long and Garden to B-Site, look for people camped behind the site box and immediately to the left of the site entrance. Once on B-Site, it is a matter of checking B-Elbow. Attackers coming from Hookah also have a good shot at any defender at Elbow. Getting to B-Hall via Elbow is important to stop potential rotations after placing the spike.

If you want to get over Hookah, you should usually do it with a teammate, as there are many angles to check here. In Hookah, it is basically important to use the utility abilities of the agents cleverly in order to win the duels in tight spaces.

The spike is usually placed on B on the attacker’s side of the site box, as this allows you to keep an eye on all entrances to the site. If you are sure that no one is coming from B-Hall or has secured B-Hall, you can also place the spike behind the site box.

Some like to place the spike inside the site box – this gives more security, but it also applies to the defense when disarming the spike.

Bind Map – A Site – Defenders Guide

Heaven is an optimal place for the defense, because from here you have visibility to all A-Site accesses. Ideally, there should be someone with an operator here, because Heaven becomes the hub of the A-Site defense.

From below, Heaven is supported as follows: Behind the site boxes and/or truck, you can rotate for good angles on A-Short and Showers. But it is even better to stand directly under Heaven: From here you have a view of Showers and A-Short without moving. But be careful: if you peek at Showers, you are vulnerable to an attack from A-Short, unless you use the site boxes for cover while peeking.

Showers is perfect for shotgun eco rounds: It has only one entrance and you can ideally camp the corners with the Shotgun.

While it is crucial to defend the teleporter on B, A-Port is less important as this teleporter covers less distance. Also, when the enemy team teleports, don’t immediately chase after them. Sometimes it is better to rotate to B through your own spawn. This might surprise the attackers instead of trapping them by predictably jumping into the teleporter after them.

Bind Map – A Site – Attackers Guide

When attacking Showers, you must always remember that you have B-Port Exit behind you. You have less than a second to react here as soon as you hear the sound of a teleport, and can easily be heckled by an A defender and a rotating B defender.

Taking Showers is difficult because it has many corners to check and because everything is very tight. Even worse is the transition from Showers to A-Site: Yes, the goal is in sight, but most likely the defense has defenders lined up all over A-Site with the Showers door already in their sights. Phoenix’s Ulti Run It Back is very effective here, as it allows you to get a safe look at A-Site while perhaps securing a kill so the rest of the team can follow up more safely.

Pay particular attention to the angle to the right here – Tower – when exiting Showers: Tower is a prime camping spot for defenders.

If you approach A-Site via A-Short, be prepared for aggressive defenders who may come toward you and lurk. Once you get past A-Short and reach A-Port you have to be careful again: The entire access to A-Site may be secured by the defenders. Here you need an agent who can block off the entire entrance area to the right with a Wall so that you take away the defenders’ view and remain unpredictable. This also allows you to take U-Hall, which gives the attackers more options on A-Site.

When in doubt, use the teleporter and rotate the attack B.

The small corner by the site boxes is usually the default location to place the spike. Bonus tip: The boxes on A-Site are not fully shootable – the metal pieces provide impenetrable protection.

Valorant Beginner’s Guide

Overwhelmed with Valorant? No wonder… Without experience in similar games (such as CS:GO or Overwatch) the start in Valorant is difficult. But don’t worry, we are here to help you with our Valorant Beginner Guide.

Valorant is a special game. Many think that getting into the game is easy, but without shooter experience, you’ll quickly be on the ropes. Even CS:GO veterans can get into trouble… In Counter Strike, there are no flying knife-throwing things-people. But that’s why we are here.

This beginner’s guide is meant to help you get started in Valorant and introduce you to the world of Valorant. After that, the most important features should be clear to you, so that the fun in Valorant is not lost.

Valorant Beginner Guide: Basics

Let’s start with the meaning behind the game. In other words: What is Valorant anyway? Valorant is a first-person shooter in which two teams consisting of five players face off. The first team to win 13 rounds wins. Both teams have a different role – attacker and defender.

The goal of the attackers is to place a spike and protect it until detonation. This must happen on one of the three spots (A/B/C). In turn, the defenders must prevent the attackers from doing so.

Each match consists of two halves. After the first half (12 rounds), the two teams switch roles. The attackers become defenders, the defenders become attackers. Easy.

Agents

Before the start of a match, each player must choose an agent. Agents have unique skills, which in most cases also require a certain playstyle (offensive, defensive, support, etc.). Currently there are 16 agents in total, but new agents have already been leaked and should be added soon.

As a new player, you can initially choose between 5 free agents: Brimstone, Phoenix, Sova, Jett and Sage. To unlock more agents, you will have to sign contracts, which is mostly done via Daily Quests or earning experience points.

Valorant Beginner Guide: The best agent to start with

Phoenix is by far the easiest agent to start with in Valorant. His skills are not too complicated, can be combined well in any situation. But watch out with the flashbangs (aka your Q skill)! You’ll probably flashbang yourself and your mates quite often in the beginning, but practice makes perfect!

Valorant Beginner Guide: The best mode to start with

Stay away from Unrated mode for the beginning. This may sound strange, but especially the beginning of Valorant might be hard for you. Frustration will lead to quick quits, which in turn will get you involved in penalties and XP loss. That’s why you should start with Spike Rush first. An average game here lasts 8 minutes, while other modes can easily go over 50 minutes. In Spike Rush, you’ll be quickly released from suffering without having to take any penalties.

In addition, you don’t have to do any eco rounds in Spike Rush. This means that you’ll be able to try out your agents’ abilities, as well as the most varied weapons. Spike Rush is a great mode to learn the basics of Valorant. When you feel like you’re firmly in the saddle, you can try your luck in Unrated mode. After 20 matches in Unrated mode, you’ll gain access to Competitive mode, where you can earn ranks.

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